family thoughts

Some more photographs of the New Forest as we were returning from our regular family visiting last Sunday. Everything looks so fresh and green now in contrast to when we had our rather chilly picnics there earlier in the year.

 It was lovely to walk in the fresh air for a while before driving home.

Two days of driving this weekend. On Saturday we were going in a different direction on a different motorway to pick up youngest son from University. This was our second trip to bring him home. There was too much to pack into our car so last weekend we brought back some of his belongings and this week we brought back more and there was room for him in the car as well!

His university time has passed quickly and it doesn't seem three years since I posted about my "empty nest". Of course, the current economic and job situation has meant that the nest hasn't been empty. Two years ago, eldest son returned from university and has since been living at home, working but still looking for a graduate job. Youngest son is now back and is busy looking for jobs, either temporary or permanent, living at home or moving to where he can find something. It is not easy for them, so different from when I graduated and everybody on my university course had a job to go to within a few weeks of finishing. I felt pleased to be starting out on my career, although even back then most of my money went on rent. At least I was in a job with prospect of promotion whereas now there are so many young graduates working minimum wage jobs.

I have heard my generation called the "sandwich generation", sandwiched between the joint concerns about elderly parents becoming frail and our grown children trying to find employment and to afford somewhere to live.
It feels like this here sometimes. Last weekend it was my husbands family, next weekend we will being spending the weekend in the West Country visiting my parents. There is a lot to think about.

All the more reason to pause and notice the little details of life. Whatever life throws at us, the seasons change, summer follows spring, the flowers bloom and then fade and the cycle of the year continues - good to walk in the countryside and take a break from worrying and overthinking.

This little mouse in the car park was quietly chewing on a piece of discarded tissue while we were eating our lunch. He looked content, I wonder if mice have worries too?